NEW WALKING FOR HEALTH PROGRAMME

12th August 2010

I am pleased to send you the latest Health Walk information for the Carlisle District Area.

The poster enclosed is a copy of the NEW Walking for Health, August - December 2010 Programme. These walks take place at a variety of locations around the city and district in order to improve accessibility. This programme is growing in success and has received Walking for Health Initiative (WfH) Accreditation. This demonstrates that high standards are being maintained, for example, through correct procedures, training and risk assessments. It additionally recognises the value and worth of the scheme in the Carlisle area. 

A key on the poster provides information in regard to accessibility for those with pushchairs or wheelchairs. However, we do also have a number of Walk Packs which provide individuals with a series of 10 walk routes that can be accessed in an individuals own time. These have been distributed to GP Practices by the PCT.

Note: This programme will now run at 10.30am and 1pm and we would encourage new individuals and referrals to access the latter time.

Park Walks are additionally still running - short, flat, 30 minute walks on good surfaces. These are entry level walks, lower in number and ensure that individuals who are referred into the scheme can speak to qualified leaders and progress at their own level. These are 'person centred' so that the individual can walk at a pace and distance that is comfortable for them.

Both the above are a key link in the Physical Activity Care Pathways Project and have taken a number of referrals from practitioners, health professionals, the hospital and GPs for a variety of conditions. The scheme has also featured in the "Let's Get Moving: A new physical activity care pathway for the NHS" document (DoH, Sept 2009) and has been involved with best practice and research work with the British Heart Foundation, Oxford University, Natural England and the North West Health and Physical Activity Forum event.

I would appreciate if it you could display this information in your establishment/s and circulate it around networks you feel would link into the scheme.

All staff are qualified Walk Leaders and as part of the training, learn about a number of health issues and conditions. Additionally, each Leader is a trained First Aider. An outdoor health questionnaire has to be completed prior to any activity to assess health status and is monitored at each walk to ensure that there have been no changes in health.

Should you have any questions about the scheme, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,
E Dixon
Sports Development Officer (Physical Activity and Health).

References
Department of Health (DoH) (2009) Lets Get Moving - Lets Get Moving - A new physical activity care pathway for the NHS. London, DoH. [Released September 2009].